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Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Defense (D.C., US)

Collaborators: Steve Ray (PI, University at Buffalo); Alexander Hoepker (University at Buffalo); Joshua Wallace (University at Buffalo)

Project Description: This project will develop a combined thermal desorption/microwave plasma strategy for removing PFAS from granular activated carbon (GAC) filter media and their subsequent destruction. A novel ‘warm’ thermal plasma, the Microwave Inductively-Coupled Atmospheric Plasma (MICAP), will be used for high-temperature plasma-mediated mineralization of PFAS.  The overarching goals of this project are the development and evaluation of a high-efficacy ‘warm’ thermal air plasma-based destruction technology for treating off-gases generated by upstream processes. This proposal’s plasma technology is applied to thermal desorption but can be adapted for broader flue gas treatment.

The objectives of the study are to:  (1) develop, optimize, and evaluate the efficacy of the MICAP plasma as a destruction method for highly incalcitrant gaseous PFAS surrogates CF₄ and C₂F₆, measuring the efficiency of decomposition and the resulting transformation products; (2) Develop, optimize, and evaluate an energy-efficient indirect TD methodD for removal of PFAS from GAC at reduced temperatures by optimization of sweep gas water content and acidity, measuring the rate of PFAS volatilization and identifying any PFAS remaining in the GAC by studying a group of 40 common PFAS; (3) Demonstrate, optimize, and evaluate the efficacy of the combined TD-MICAP system for removal of the 40 common PFAS from GAC. The energy and decomposition efficiencies of the TD-MICAP process will be optimized and measured.

Recent Related Publications: None yet.